Three University of Alabama-related companies in Launchpad competition

Friday

Jun 14, 2013 at 12:01 AM

Three start-up companies affiliated with the University of Alabama are among the 10 start-up companies from across the state that were selected this week to compete in the second 2013 Alabama Launchpad Start-Up Competition.

Staff report

Three start-up companies affiliated with the University of Alabama are among the 10 start-up companies from across the state that were selected this week to compete in the second 2013 Alabama Launchpad Start-Up Competition.Twenty-seven start-ups applied for the competition and a five-judge panel chose the 10 after reviewing submitted applications.The 10 teams now will compete for up to $100,000 in award money that will be used to further develop their company. Alabama Launchpad is in its seventh year. Its purpose is to help innovative ventures that have the potential to create and keep jobs in Alabama grow into businesses in the state.The UA-affiliated companies in the competition are:- Bidsters: An online interactive database in which construction industry businesses can display their information to get connected with others in the industry and communicate with them all in one place. Its team leader is Ben Bickerstaff and the company is based in Tuscaloosa.- e-Electricity: A telecommunications company that is developing wireless harvesting, allowing for mobile devices to recharge wirelessly, without the need to plug-in to a power outlet, which it said is a tremendous advantage for individuals who are always “on the go” or traveling. Its team leader is Sloan McCrary and the company is based in Tuscaloosa. - Surface Integrity LLC: A medical devices and equipment research and development company that develops custom surfaces for a wide variety of industries and applications, including controlling the surface of degradable metal implants by surface treatments. Its team leader is Michael Sealy and the company is based in Hoover. This is the first year Alabama Launchpad has two competitions in the same year.Alabama Launchpad is financed by business, the state and seven state universities. Its judges are entrepreneurs, investors and corporate stakeholders.The 10 startups will now present business plans to the judges by June 30 and will make their first pitch presentations before the judges on July 12. The competition’s finale will be Sept. 26 at the third annual Alabama Launchpad Innovation and Entrepreneurship Conference in Hoover.

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